Donor Sperm

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Donor sperm can help women conceive through intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF). Using donor sperm to get pregnant may be a good option if you are a single woman or a same-sex female couple. Couples struggling with male factor infertility may also choose to use a sperm donor.

At Penn Fertility Care - Lancaster General Health, sperm donation is one of many options we offer to help you achieve your reproductive goals. After a personalized fertility consultation and comprehensive testing, we'll help you make a plan for parenthood.

Are Donor Sperm Right for Me?

There are a variety of reasons to consider donor sperm:

Genetic conditions: Men with genetic disorders may use donor sperm to reduce the risk of passing a genetic or chromosomal abnormality onto their child.
Male factor infertility: Some conditions, such as varicocele or hormone disorders, affect the quality and quantity of sperm, making donor sperm a good choice.
Previous cancer treatment: Chemotherapy, radiation therapy or surgery can affect sperm production or quantity. If you have cancer, we recommend sperm freezing before you start treatment.
Same-sex female couples: Lesbian women can use donor sperm to get pregnant with their own eggs through IUI or IVF.
Single women: Donor sperm allow single women to conceive without a male partner.

How Do I Get Donor Sperm?

There are a few ways you can get donor sperm:

Anonymous sperm donors: Most people go through a sperm bank where you buy frozen sperm from anonymous donors. If you choose this route, we can connect you to reputable, certified sperm banks and walk you through the sperm selection process.
Known sperm donors: Sometimes people use known donors, meaning the sperm is from a friend, family member or other acquaintance. If you choose a known donor, a legal donor contract is required.

Is Donor Sperm Safe?

Sperm donors go through an extensive screening process. They undergo a comprehensive medical history review and screenings for genetic and infectious diseases. They're also screened for mental health conditions, as well as drug and alcohol abuse. Once they donate a sample, their sperm is thoroughly analyzed to ensure it's healthy and high-quality.

What Can I Expect During the Donor Sperm IUI or IVF Process?

The process of using donor sperm is fairly simple. Once you select a donor, the cryopreserved sperm is shipped to our lab. We safely store the sperm until you're ready to use it. From that point on, you can expect a normal IUI or IVF process.

How Much Does Using a Sperm Donor Cost?

Using a sperm donor for insemination is significantly less expensive than using donor eggs. If you use a known donor, you should consider any associated legal costs. You should also consider the possibility of needing multiple IUI or IVF treatments to achieve a pregnancy. We recommend buying enough sperm to last several treatments.

What Should I Look for When Choosing a Sperm Donor?

We do baseline medical screening to help narrow your choice of a donor. Once we know the medical characteristics you need to consider, you can narrow down sperm donors by physical characteristics, age, ethnicity, background, education and many other filters. Sometimes you can view pictures or listen to voice recordings of the donor.

You can also choose sperm that have been prepared in different ways, such as IUI-ready sperm that has already been washed. Washed sperm means only healthy, motile sperm remain in the sample: dead sperm and other substances, such as mucus, have been removed. We'll provide you with the information you need to select the best sperm donor for your needs and your planned fertility treatment.

Donor Sperm IVF and IUI: Why Choose Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health?

At Penn Fertility Care - Lancaster General Health, you'll find:

State-of-the-art lab: Our in-site fertility lab is equipped with the latest technology for sperm handling and storage. Experienced embryologists perform advanced procedures such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection and sperm vitrification (flash-freezing).
Personalized attention: We help you understand the risks and benefits of using donor sperm for your fertility treatment. Our team considers many factors, including your age, health, lifestyle and reproductive goals, before recommending a care plan.
Range of services: We draw on a wide spectrum of services, including the use of donor sperm or eggs, to give everyone a chance at parenthood. From oncofertility services to LGBTQ+ family building, your unique path to parenthood starts here.